WORCESTER - A Worcester woman was arrested on drunken driving, child endangerment and other charges after police said she put her son in danger when her car crashed into a median and sign on Belmont Street and police rescued her child from traffic Thursday evening. The child was running between cars and was reportedly almost struck by oncoming vehicles, police said.

Ruth Mitaru, 41, of 65 Esther Street, Apt. 3, Worcester, crashed her vehicle on the median on Belmont Street after leaving a party, police said. According to court documents, Ruth told an officer her 8-year-old child exited the vehicle and ran into traffic after being startled by the accident. An officer at the scene was able to grab hold of the child and place the child in a cruiser for safety reasons, police said.

An officer interviewing Mitaru reported that she was unsteady on her feet, had bloodshot eyes and a strong scent of alcohol on her, police said. When the officer asked Ruth if she had been drinking, she told the officer she had several drinks at a friend's party but was "not a bad person," police said. Officers report seeing a half-full bottle of rum in the vehicle in plain sight.

According to court documents, officers arrested Mitaru on suspicion of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol but not did complete a field sobriety test because the officer determined the scene not safe enough with her son in a cruiser and her inability to keep her balance. Mitaru was brought back to the police station and charged with drunken driving, child endangerment while under the influence, marked lanes violations and having an open container in the vehicle.

According to court documents, Ruth consented to a breathalyzer test and blew a 0.296 in her first test and a 0.295 in her second.

Ruth was arraigned at Worcester District Court on Friday. She will appear in court again on June 7.